Why Pure & Faultless?

James chapter 1, verse 27 reads, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: caring for widows and orphans in their distress and keeping oneself unstained from the world.” The vision for Pure & Faultless sprang from these pages of God’s word. But it doesn’t end there.

The book of James is full of references to living out faith by working for His kingdom here on earth. God commands us to act on what we hear in scripture, and there are thousands of references in scripture to caring for the poor and needy! God warns, “But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person [the man or woman of action] will find delight and affirmation in the action.” James 1:25 MSG. The goal of Pure & Faultless is to delight in taking holy steps of action as God has called us! Who has he called us to serve?

God’s Word says that we are not to be filled with hot air or false promises, but rather focused on “real religion” which “[r]each[es] out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard[s] against corruption from the godless world.” James 1:27 MSG. Where traditional versions translate the recipient of our mercy as “widows and orphans,” a study of scripture emphasizes Jesus’ heart for these two groups of people and His heart for all of the poor, the most vulnerable poor, as represented by widows and orphans. Pure & Faultless will serve widows, orphans, homeless, hopeless, loveless, downtrodden, poor, and vulnerable people everywhere. How do we do that?

Scripture asks, “Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?” James 2:14. I love how the Message version responds to this (rhetorical) question with another: “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” James 2:17. No, instead James poignantly reminds us that we work out our faith through works. “Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.” James 2:18. Our faith must be fruitful in works. James 2:24. Pure & Faultless seeks to exploit the seamless unity of believing and doing. James 2:25. First, we believe in God; next, we do something to demonstrate that belief and conviction. We do something. Pure & Faultless will put our hands to the plow for needy people. We will reach out to the single mother, lend a hand to the child seeking an education, provide dignity to the homeless, sit with the prostitute, comfort the teenage mother, and mentor the spiritually broke.

But Pure & Faultless is even more than that. It’s also the lens through which we will see people we serve. The respect we will show them. The way we will exalt them. The goal we will pursue with them. Jesus died so that if we believe in Him, we will be presented at the throne of judgment day, holy and blameless in His sight. Phil. 2:15. While our words can break down and destroy, James 3, Pure & Faultless will seek to speak life into the people we serve, bearing every burden with them as we join hands on the plow. Pure & Faultless emphasizes pure minds, faultless mouths, and joyful hearts, in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Because of those priorities, we will seek to be wise. “[Real wisdom] is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” James 3:18 MSG. Pure & Faultless will treat people within the organization and those outside the organization with these priorities: dignity, respect, honor, love.

Last, prayer. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful. James 5:16. “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.” James 5:19-20 (emphasis added). That’s the ultimate hope and prayer for Pure & Faultless: to make believers of all people. Jesus loving followers and doers. Join us!

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